Category Archives: Entertainment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 17, 2011 by David McKee

“All that happened was some of [the Hollywood Foreign Press Association] were taken to see Cher in concert. How the hell is that a bribe? Really. ‘Do you want to go and see Cher?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because it’s not 1975!’” … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Play Cosmo, get a car!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

Enviro-friendly, too. I want it! (Funny how The Cosmopolitan, of which little was initially expected, looks like the feel-good story of the year, while CityCenter is a continuing disappointment, and Fontainebleau and sundry other projects have fallen on their faces.) … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, Transportation | 1 Comment

A fit of ‘Peep’

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

While I personally do not find Holly Madison terribly attractive, the producers of Peepshow are complete and utter dumbf@*!s if they think she’s ‘too fat’ to star in their struggling show. Let’s leave aside the question of Madison’s appearance (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 2 Comments

Saved!

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino industry just dodged a bullet the size of a 747 when the lower house failed to bring a gaming-expansion bill to a vote last night. A new Legislature is sworn in today, sending this colossally bad and ill-timed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 4 Comments

Desperate housewife

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David McKee

As you’ve probably heard, Beso has become the first known casualty of CityCenter. Its Chapter 11 filing was smuggled out in the waning hours of last week’s news cycle. The Panglossian rhetoric of the initial dispatch tried to paint the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Dubai, Election, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Ruffin on the prowl; Penn’s blown opportunity

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

So much for the conventional wisdom that Phil Ruffin was just hanging onto Treasure Island for a few years to help MGM Resorts International through a rough patch. Seems he’s subsequently made offers for The Mirage (whose infrastructure is symbiotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 6 Comments

Let it (not) snow!; BP screws casinos

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

With Atlantic City currently in white-out mode, casino executives must be studying next weekend’s forecast and hoping that it holds true. A few days of above-freezing temperatures ought to give the Boardwalk a chance to melt and shovel its way … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

“Las Vegas has always prospered by reinventing itself every few years, and sometimes we evolve into something that the public doesn’t yet know it wants.” — unnamed MGM Resorts International executive, defending CityCenter to George Knapp. The latter needs no … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Pea soup in Vegas; Robosaurus attacks the wrong target

Posted on December 22, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re thinking of coming to Las Vegas for Christmas, I have one word of advice: Don’t. For the past week, Sin City has been steadily blanketed in rain, with no end in sight. It’s just miserable. (Instead of trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Betting on crime; Anniversary in Indiana

Posted on December 21, 2010 by David McKee

Last week’s big chip heist at Bellagio may have left MGM Resorts International with a smidgen of egg on its face but it’s not as though others in the gambling industry have failed to see the opportunity to make money. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Oscar Goodman, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Cosmo: the morning after; “Sinatra” too sexy?

Posted on December 16, 2010 by David McKee

Although I’m still feeling somewhat the worse for wear from last night’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opening-night bacchanalia, a quick observations are in order. Filled with people, Cosmo’s virtues are magnified, its vices minimized (with one glaring exception to which … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, TV | 5 Comments

Cosmopolitan: Towers of Babel

Posted on December 15, 2010 by David McKee

It’s here and it’s a sensory overload. If the severe CityCenter six-pack is a convent of Carmelite nuns, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is a drag queen. It’s unstintingly flamboyant, often fabulous, unremittingly outrageous and campy as all get-out. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, IGT, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Movies, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 8 Comments

Atlantic City’s future: “Bleak”

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

Such is the prognosis from J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff after the November revenues rolled in from the Boardwalk. Basically, the double-edged sword that was table games in Pennsylvania and a casino in Philadelphia has swung, and lopped 12.5% off … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Caliendo, ColSux & Sixty Votes’ latest

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

After 14 months on the job as Monte Carlo‘s resident headliner, Frank Caliendo is calling it quits, effective some time next spring. The impressionist and Fox Sports regular cited having to spend time away from his family and the rigors … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, history, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sahara, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sheldon Adelson is so busted

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

Congratulations, Sheldon Adelson! You’ve just upped your street cred — and become the butt of 1,001 pimp jokes. Is the Las Vegas Sands CEO going to start hangin’ with Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent (or maybe Eliot Spitzer and Hugh … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, G2E, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

“The Eighties called. They want their graphics back.” — comment overheard during the archaic video montage that precedes Striptease The Show at the Sahara, the seediest topless show in town (bottom of page).

Posted in Entertainment, Sahara, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Adelson vs. China; Cirque du Avatar? Indiana wallops Illinois

Posted on December 8, 2010 by David McKee

In a lengthy Asia Times dispatch, the reliable Muhammad Cohen runs through various scenarios about why the government of Macao would pull back two Cotai Strip™ sites from a ‘george’ investor like Las Vegas Sands. Since the acreage will probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

Explore the “Schtrip” …

Posted on December 8, 2010 by David McKee

… from the comfort of your desk. A new application, 3DLasVegas.com, provides a virtual flyover of Sin City. (Caution: You must have Google Earth installed in order to use the site.) The cyber-tour also includes a booking engine, a followup … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn has a Rembrandt and you don’t

Posted on December 7, 2010 by David McKee

Uploaded just a couple of hours ago, here is the Wynn Resorts CEO making his first Facebook video on behalf of Twyla Tharp‘s Sinatra: Dance with Me. Could the touring attraction become a permanent fixture of Wynncore? We can but … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, history, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Steve Wynn has a Rembrandt and you don’t